Posted on 11/23/2004 2:35:36 AM PST by leadpenny
BRITISH POLITICS
State Opening of Parliament
Queen Elizabeth II fomally opens a new session of Parliament. In this annual ceremony, the monarch reads a speech from the throne in the House of Lords. The speech is written by the Prime Minster's staff and outlines the government's legislative plan and policy for the coming year.
Elizabeth II, Queen, United Kingdom
In an annual ceremony for the official opening of Parliament, Queen Elizabeth will read a speech prepared for her by the government outlining the legislative agenda for the year.
Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords will take part in the State Opening of Parliament. This will be the Queen's 51st State Opening. The Queen will outline the government's plans for the coming year in a speech in the House of Lords. BBC coverage of the annual event includes the Queen's trip by carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The BBC's anchor is Huw Edwards and one of the guests is Iain Duncan Smith, former Leader of the Conservative Party
Coverage will run for approximately one hour and twenty minutes.
The pageantry starts now.
The Speech From The Throne. Its given at the opening of Parliament in all Commonwealth Countries that have a Governor-General acting as representative of Her Majesty.
Are they going to yell at one another like they do while in session?
No. The time to debate the Speech will be after the Prime Minister has arisen to give his reply to it. Then it will be the Opposition's turn to express its views.
Canada's Queen, Adrian Clarkson, does the same thing...Except she has a more expensive wardrobe, paid for by the Canadian 'tax me more' taxpayer.
Will Prince Charles ever become King!
Its all about pageantry. It would cost Canada less if they would invite one of the Princes Of Windsor to become King Of Canada. A permanent Canadian monarch would save on the expense of naming a new Governor-General every five years.
He'll have to wait a long time to become King.
I enjoy the "debates" in the House of Commons, the prime minister has to be very quick on his feet, questions and arguments fly like bullets there. Lots of fun to watch.
What is that Queen eating to stay alive so long, we need to package it!
Question Period is one of the few times when the Government is answerable to Parliament for the discharge of its responsibilities. Allowing Cabinet Members in the U.S to sit in Congress without vote and making them defending their departments would mean a more responsive federal government. And no constitutional amendment would be required to initiate such a practice - it would be in keeping with Congress' constitutionally mandated oversight of the Executive Branch.
I can't remember, but hasn't Adrain been Queen of Canada for the past 12 years now?
At one time the GG's budget was under a million, now she spends 18 million a year on her royal behind. And she's quite proud of it too!
she has even re-jewelled the GG throne, it's better than the queen of Englands, LoL!
As far as I know, the Liberal party thinks themselves as the monarchy of Canada, the rightfull heirs to the dominion.
That's why commoners, like the western conservatives aren't "allowed" to govern.
Yea, I like the idea. Never happen but it is a good idea.
A universal ID card is being proposed in the Queen's (Blair's) speech.
Which strikes me as amazing. I learnt, last night in my readings, that Her Majesty (as Princess Elizabeth) served as a truck driver during WWII.
The British Crown and Parliament - its government - is one of the bulwarks of Western Civilization. God save the Queen, and God bless the USA!
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